Platini withdraws bid for FIFA presidency

PARIS — Suspended UEFA chief Michel Platini on Thursday withdrew from the race to become FIFA president, telling L’Equipe that he will concentrate on clearing his name instead.

“I will not present myself for the presidency of FIFA. I am withdrawing my candidature. I no longer have the time nor the means to go to the voters, to meet people, to fight against the other candidates,” said Platini in reference to the January 26 deadline for nominations to succeed Sepp Blatter.

“In withdrawing, I am dedicating myself to my defense.”

Platini and Blatter were suspended for eight years by FIFA’s ethics committee over a 2 million Swiss franc ($2 million) payment made to Platini in 2011 for work carried out between 1999 and 2002.

Read more coverage of the FIFA corruption scandal from The Tico Times